I never considered myself fat, even when I was at my heaviest (236 lbs). I would look in the mirror and still see the old me. It was total denial. Then one day someone took a picture of me and some friends and emailed it to me. When I opened the email (without knowing what it was) my first though was who the heck is that? I was shocked to realize that it was me and that I really was that heavy. It was a much-needed wake up call.

I quickly lost about 15 lbs, but my weight remained around 215-220 for another year. Finally in February I realized that I didn't want to be that person in the picture anymore. She wasn't happy and she wasn't healthy.

I knew that a fad diet wouldn't work and the only way to lose weight was to change the way I was eating. I had been living off of fast food and I couldn't do that anymore.

Now I eat at Subway several times a week from their low-fat menu. I eat more veggies and less meat. I haven't cut carbs (I'm addicted to Coca-Cola) but I've limited them. Instead of drinking a 6 pack a day I drink 1. I eat turkey burgers instead of meat burgers.

It may not be the fastest way to lose but it's working! As of 5/15/07 I've lost 16 lbs since mid February. For the first time in 3 years I'm below 200 lbs. Watching the scale go down has been my greatest motivation.

I'm trying to set small goals for myself and reward myself when I reach them. My next goal is 180 by August. Then I get to take a much needed vacation!

Hopefully I will eventually reach my goal of 145 at 5'5". I'm not setting a time line, but I'm DETERMINED to get there!

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